Ments



Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UN'ITEO SjTA'lES PATENT OFFIQE.

FREDERICK C. KROEGER, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

TERMINAL CLIP.

Application filed July 28,

This invention relates to connectors for electrical circuits andincludes among its objects the provision of means for detachablysecuring an insulated wire conductor to a terminal block, and for makingelectrical connections between said wire conductor and a conductor onthe'terminal block.

These objects are accomplished in the pres ent invention by providingthe terminal block with a socket for receiving a ferrule which embracesthe end of an insulated wire conductor, the socket and ferrule beingconstructed so that the ferrule is readily removable with the conductorfrom the socket, and readily removable from the conductor after theconductor and ferrule have been removed from the socket. The presentinvention aims to prevent separation of the ferrule from the conductorwhile the conductor is being re moved from the socket.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the presentinvention is clearly shown.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows in section, a terminal block such as adistributor head for ignition apparatus, constructed to cooperate withthe connecting ferrule included in the present invention. Fig. 2 is atopplan view of the ferrule shown in section in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom-plan view ofthe ferrule. Fig. 5 is a side view looking in the direction of arrow 5in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings: 20 designates a terminal block or distributorhead for ignition apparatus provided with a plurality of sockets 21,each having an annular groove 22. Each socket receives a pointedconductor 23 attached to conductors 24 and 25 which cooperate in awell-known manner with a dis tributor rotor 26 driven by anengine-operated shaft 27. i

In order to connect each pointed conductor 23 with the stranded orbraided wire portion 29 of a flexible conductor 28 having rubber orother flexible insulation 30, there is pro vided a ferrule or terminalclip designated as a whole by numeral 40. The clip 40 includes acircular base 41 provided with a hale 1924. Serial No. 728,590.

The base 41 provides a yoke connecting twobranches 43 and 44 whichengage the insulation 30 of the conductor 28. The branch 43 is providedwith an arcuate rib 45 adapted to be received by the groove 22 and withinwardly extending prongs 46 for biting into the insulation 30. Thebranch 44 is shorter than branch 43 and is provided with prongs 47 forengaging the insulation 30 at portions nearer the end of the cable thanthe portions of the cable which are engaged by the prongs 46.

To attach an insulated wire 28 to one of the pointed conductors 23, thewire is cut off square at one end and that end is inserted between thebranches 43 and 44 of the ferrule 40. The ferrule 40 is moved relativeto the conductor 28 so that the end of the conductor bears against thebase 41. The conductor and the attached ferrule are inserted in thesocket 21 and are moved until the rib is engaged by the socket groove22. This movement will cause the prongs 46 and 47 to engage theinsulation 30 of the wire. The conductor 23 will extend through the hole42 and will wedge apart the strands of the conducting wire 29. Thisspreading of the strands of wire 29 causes the insulation to be firmlypressed against the ferrule branches 43 and 44.

This insertion of the cable and socket will cause the prongs 47 topierce the insulation 30 at two points on the same side of the strands29 and to a depth sufficient to prevent separation ofthe cable from theferrule while the ferrule is in the socket. The ridge 45 will firstengage the cylindrical inner surface of the socket 21, and will causethe prongs 46' to pinch the insulation 30 to a substantial degree sothat the ridge 45 will be firmly pressed into the groove 22 by therelease of the insulation when the ferrule is moved against the ends ofthe socket. Most of the pinching of the insulation 30 by branch 43 ofthe ferrule takes place at a zone which is at a different distance fromend of the cable 28 than the zone pierced by the prongs 47. The pinchingprongs 46 are further apart than prongs 47 and are shaped so as to exerta pinching pressure acting closer to the surface of the insulation 30than the pinching pres sure exerted by the prongs 47 which act sub=stantiallj radially [if the caliez pineh "engaging the insulation forabout one-half and the ferrule remaining in the socket, because thecable insulation is not pierced at its circumference but do not piercethe insulatlon to a substantial amount. Therefore, when the cable 28 isremoved from the termi- 'nal block 20, there is very little liability ofthe cable insulation being stripped by the ferrule diametricallyopposite points in the same plane.

In other-words, the prongs 47 are relied on to prevent separation of theferrule from the cable while the cable is Withdrawn from the socket, andthe prongs 46 and surface 48 are" relied on to pinch the insulation sothat the ridge 45 will be firmly retained by the groove While the formof embodiment of the in vent on as herein disclosed, constitutes apreferred form,it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted,all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

' What is. claimed is as follows;

1 terminal ferrule for an insulated I v lnsertable'in a socket comprisng, in combination, an apertured base portionadapted to engage with theend of the conducting element of the cable; two branch portionsextending ia'ngularly from said base portion and adapted to einbracethecable, one of said portions be- 7 ing shorter than the other; means onthe shorter portion for piercing the insulation so- Y as'to be embeddedtherein; and means provided on the other portion for encircling andpinching a portion of the insulation of the cable to hold it in positionon the piercing means of the shorter branch portion, when the ferruleand cable are inserted together in. a

socket. V V p V 2. A terminal ferrule for an insulated cable'in'sertable ina socket comprising, 'in combina tion, an apertured baseportion adapted to engage with the end of the conducting ele 'ment ofthe cable; t'wo brancli portions eX- tending angularly from said baseportion and adaptedl toembrace the cable, one" of said portionsbeingshorter than the other; means I on the shorter portion for piercing the1nsu-,

lation so as to be e nbedde'd thereinyand an arcuate, ribbed meansprovided 'on the other portion for encircling andpinching aportion ofthe insulation of the cable to hold ,it in position on the piercingmeans of the shorter branch portion, the ferrule and cable are insertedtogether in asocket. 3. A terminal ferrule for an insulated gableinsertable in a socketprovided with an annular groove comprising, incombination,

an apertured base portion adapted to engage cable the conducting portionof the cable; two branch portions extending angularly from said baseportion and adapted to embrace the cable, one of said portions beingshorter than the other; prongs on the shorter branch por:, 'tion forpiercing the insulation ofthe cable so as to be embedded therein; andan'arcuate, ribbed prong on the other branch portion for pinching the cableand engaging with the annular groove when the ferrule is in the socket.4. "A terminal ferrule for an insulated cable insertable in a socketprovided with an annular groove comprising, in combination, an aperturedbase portionadapted to engage the conducting portion of the cable; two

branch portions extending angularly from for pinching theinsulation whenin engagement with the annular groove ofjthe socket. 5. A terminalferrule for an insulated cable "insertable in a socket-comprising, incombination, an 'apertured' l base portion adapted to engage With theendfof the conducting element ofthe'cable; two'bran'ch portionsextending 'angularly from said base portion and adaptedto embrace thecable, oneof said'portions being shorterithan the other means ononeportion for piercing the ins'ulation so as to beembedded therein; andmeans provided on the'other portion for encircling and pinching aportion of'the insulation ofthecable to hold it in position on the vpiercing means of'the first branch portion, whenthe ferrule and cableare inserted together in a socket, or removed therefrom; I 6. terminalferrule for an insulated cable insertable in a socket comprising, 'incombination, an apertured base portion adapted to engage with the end ofthe conducting element of thecable; two branch portions extendingangularly from said base portion and 7 adapted to embrace'thecable, oneof said portions'beingshorter than the other; means on one portion forpiercing the insulation so as to be 'embedded therein; and an arcuate,ribbed means provided on the other portion for encircling and pinchingaportion of the insulation of the cable to hold it in position on thepiercing means of the first branch portion, when the ferrule and cableare inserted togetherrin a socket, or removed therefrom. 7;; A terminalferrule for an insulated cable jinsertable in asocket comprising, incombination, an apertured base portion adapted to engage? with the endof the conducting element ofthe cable;a plurality of branch por tionsextending angularly from said base portion and adapted to embrace thecable, at

least one of said portions being shorter than position on the piercingmeans of the shorter the other or others; means on the shorter ranchportions, when the ferrule and cable portion or portions for piercingthe insulaare inserted together in a socket, or removed 10 tion so as tobe embedded therein; and means therefrom.

5 provided on at least one of the remaining In testimony WhereofIheretoafiix my sigportions for encircling and pinching a pornature. tion ofthe insulation of the cable to hold it in FREDERICK C. KROEGER. a

